The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-08
A BLACK BAG.
The Story Of Maine Yankee and
Professional Sharper.

There were half a dozen of US, and we
were killing time in comfortable enough
hotel in little village not far from Brattle-
bcro, Vt 1t was wretched night late in
November, with high, raw wind and pit
Hess rain. The sort Of q night on which,
according to Tom Hood, a kind. hearted
farmer in pure pity would take in his scare
crow. The members of the company were
strangers to one another, thrown together
by the chance of travel. But they all
seemed socially inclined, and as they sat
around the big fire that blazed on the ample
hearth of the barroom, each one of them
contributed something more or less inter-
esting to the conversation. All except a
tall, thin, loose jointed fellow who sat with
his hands deep In his trousers pockets. an
parently given over to meditation. At
length. however, something was said which
aroused MIN Ezae
g. got one of them confidence teller,s
clrk lars to-day" remarked a big. iollv
drover. 'lt came to Ike Blivvins, and Ike
ne allowed that he didn't have no use for it
and tossed it over ter me. The cuss writes
ms clrk'lar mighty cunnin'. Just listen to
MIN. with that the drover produced the
circular from one of his pockets and read it
aloud IL was the familiar tempting bait
writer
remarked that the man whom he was ad
dressing had been mentioned to him rs a
person who knew a good chance TO make
money when he saw it. and who also lneu,
now TO keep his mouth shut and do business
on the quiet. Did the man want To buv
some ''green goods" so well executed nc
absolutely to defy detection? II so. it would
be worth his while to run down to Boston
and see the writer who would treat him
TAR and square and put him in the yvav Of
making his fortune. When the droyer had
advanced thus far in his reading the tall
1eIlow referred to broke in with low rich
chuckle. The drover instantly turned IN
MN with the query: "Hev you been thar
strangerl"
~, go on with your reading,n answered
The other, shaking with laughter as he
spoke. no
The rest OF US pricked up our ears with
pleasurable anticipation, while the drover
Telolned, replacing the circular in his nocl,-
at; ~, this paper amt Of no particular ac-
count, let's have your story" The tall man
hestateo, gazed straight ahead on a line
win the top OF his boots as if inouirinp of
Lne nre whether or not he should unhosor,
himseiI Apparently the fire seconded tho
crover's request, for after a little. brrvino
ms nands still deeper in his pockets and
with his ewes fixed so intently unon the
blazing logs before him as to produce the
impression of one talking to himself. he nm
folded to US this tale about as 1 reprodnceit
II.
Gentlemen, I'm almost fifty wears old
What 1 tell you happened mora tben
quarter Of century back; in fact. when
was still youngster. Perhaps some ~
the rest OF you once had wild oats that ~,
were foolish enough 10 SOW. The Ivors+
use you can put wild oats to is to sow than,
but THAT'S neither here nor there. Iot
one OF these green goods" circulars 90
called, In the summer Of 1855. was ,ben
Irving IN Maine. Itcame to me from Ros,oD
Dy mail. Well. was stripping. inernari-
enceo, greener than grass. reckless and
IoieIaoly Iono OF money. The circular an
Pe1ueo 70 my cupldity, and determined tn
eHp uo"n 10 boston and see what the green
goods were like. had 5000 in q ~.
Augusta, a legacy from an aunt. and a., -
out Sl,oOO before left Maine. deterrniros
II the counterfeits were first-class 10 ;n,,o".
al OF 1t In them. OF course I yvas a., go
ano something worse-but let tba. nass,
Inc eircclar'said when / got to Boston
was 10 go 10 q certain saloon in the so1.h
end OF tnestowp- and inquire for SamrsI
AlAii ana that 10 prevent any mistake IN
regard TO who was who, on meeting Sarn,at
was to return TO him the circular IL ~
envelope in which it came obeved tbese
directions and had little difficulty in find,n,
Samuel. He wore patent leather boots anS
plug hat with Grape half wav tn ire ,oS
remember thinking he must have I.tsi,
lost relative, and that It was q little ron,h
ON his feelings to intrude business unon ri.
SORROW. But his manner treasured me
lie greeted me with great cordialitv and
presently invited me to go around 10 hi.
rooms and see the green goods. His rooms
proved to be at the top Of high building in
another part Of the town. Reaching then,
he took big leather wallet from one of hi.
pockets and spread out on the table befora
me number Of new crisp greenbacks~
hyes. tens, twenties and fifties. 1 cram
lined them with perfect amazement. never
having dreamed that counterfeiting couId
oe carried TO such pitch OF perfection. |
amer mao carefully inspected the samples
Samuel remarked. in earnest tones:
NOW, 1 don't want You to take these